Arsenal latest: Mikel Arteta sent Viktor Gyokeres warning and Gunners star opens up on team-mate
Mikel Arteta has been given a major warning(Image: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has been warned that he is not getting the most out of Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal this season.
The Swedish striker has played just 100 minutes so far this campaign, making three appearances with zero goal contributions. The 28-year-old completed an initial £55million move from Sporting CP last summer - rising to £63.5m with add-ons - and was the top scorer during the 2025/26 campaign with 21 goals in all competitions.
His major drop in impact this season has been earmarked by an ex-Gunner, who has urged Arteta to bring the Swede back to the forefront of the squad once more. Meanwhile, David Raya has talked up newcomer Bruno Guimaraes following his man-of-the-match performance against Sunderland.
The Brazilian scored one and helped set up another in a crucial 2-0 win over the Black Cats at the weekend. Here, football.london has all the latest coming out of the red side of north London.
Former Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere believes Arteta is failing to deploy Gyokeres effectively, insisting the club cannot get the best from the Swede while he remains on the bench. Speaking to LiveFootballTickets.com, the ex-Gunner said: "I think he's just got to be patient, keep the faith, have a strong mindset and mentality and really believe in his quality and that he will turn things around.
"Obviously, I know how difficult it is when suddenly you're not playing and you're on the bench and you don't really understand why. When you look at it, he was the top scorer last year. Obviously there was some criticism and people expected more for the money invested, but in the end he did deliver. I think he scored some important goals and he gives you something different.
"My only concern is that I just feel we're not playing the style that suits him, and that's more my concern. Mikel always seems to go back to Havertz. Even after Havertz was out for a long time, he brought Havertz back in for the big games because Havertz fits the way we play and the style we play.
Gyokeres has barely made an impact so far this year(Image: Francesco Scaccianoce - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
"We're not a team that, in transition, just hits the long ball straight away for the striker to run the channels. That's not really what we do. We like possession, we like to keep the ball and we like to go wide to our wingers. I do feel sometimes, particularly last season, Viktor struggled because he wanted the ball quickly, to be one-v-one with a defender and run the channel, and he never really got that service."
While defending Gyokeres, Aliadiere was unable to envisage what Arteta might do differently to further accommodate the striker in the side. He added: "So my question is more: can we play with him in this team?
"And we can't deny when we watch the games that when Havertz plays, he performs and does really well. It's tough to justify saying Viktor should be in and Havertz should be on the bench when Havertz is doing so well."
Raya heaped praise on Guimaraes for his substantial influence on the team's victory over Sunderland. After the Spanish goalkeeper denied Enzo Le Fee's penalty at the Stadium of Light, the Brazilian charged forward and found the net before teeing up Saka to secure a spot kick in stoppage time.
Raya has been seriously impressed with Guimaraes' impact(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
On Guimaraes' impact, Raya said: "It is incredible. Obviously, Bruno has been very unlucky with his start. He had two little injuries that kept him out of the team. It is not only the starters, but the people coming from the bench who are really important.
"We had Bruno scoring, and then he and Merino made the pass for Bukayo to win the pen. The whole squad is going to be very important throughout the season."
Highlighting the 28-year-old's physical presence, Raya added: "He brings a lot of things. He brings maturity, competitiveness and leadership. He is a warrior, but he is so technically gifted. He reads the game very, very well, and he will put his life [on the line] to defend and attack. He is a fantastic player to have with us - and hopefully he stays free of injury so we can enjoy him a lot."
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